Pentagon Orders 30 Universities to Audit Foreign Ties

The Pentagon has ordered 30 U.S. academic institutions to audit their research, academic and financial ties to foreign institutions it considers a national security threat — and to report back by Aug. 31 or risk losing future federal research funding.

Formal notices went out Monday, the department said. They cover partnerships with roughly 130 foreign research institutes based in China, Russia and Iran, most of them Chinese, including civilian universities.

Schools were told to assess how exposed sensitive or export-controlled research is, and to begin winding down partnerships they flag.

What the schools must do

Identify who they are working with in China, Russia and Iran, according to the notice.

Assess the exposure of sensitive and export-controlled research.

Report findings — and any terminated partnerships — to the Pentagon by Aug. 31.

The consequence for coming up short is money: the Pentagon has warned that future federal research funding depends on compliance.